Paper products containing a vegetable oil based chemical softening composition

Abstract

Fibrous cellulose materials useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent paper products such as paper towels, facial tissues, and toilet tissue are disclosed. The paper products contain a vegetable oil based quaternary ammonium chemical softening compound. Examples of preferred vegetable oil based quaternary ammonium chemical softening compounds include dioleyldimethyl ammonium chloride (i.e., di(octadec-z-9-enyl)dimethylammonium chloride) (DODMAC) and dierucyldimethyl ammonium chloride (i.e., di(docos-z-13-enyl)dimethylammonium chloride) (DEDMAC). Depending upon the paper product characteristic requirements, the saturation level of the fatty acyl groups of the vegetable oils can be tailored. Variables that need to be adjusted to maximize the benefits of using unsaturated vegetable oil based acyl groups include the Iodine Value (IV) of the fatty acyl groups; and the cis/trans isomer weight ratios in the fatty acyl groups.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A soft tissue paper product comprising: (a) cellulose paper making fibers; and   (b) from about 0.005% to about 5.0% by weight of said cellulose paper making fibers of a quaternary ammonium softening compound having the formula:   (R).sub.4-m -N.sup.+ - R.sup.2 !.sub.m X.sup.-       wherein   m is 2;   each R is a C 1  -C 6  alkyl group, hydroxyalkyl group, hydrocarbyl group, substituted hydrocarbyl group, benzyl group, or mixtures thereof;   X -   is any softener-compatible anion;   wherein each of the R 2  portion of the softening compound is derived from C 12  -C 24  fatty acyl groups having an Iodine Value of from greater than about 5 to less than about 100, wherein the majority of said fatty acyl groups are derived from vegetable oil sources, and wherein the majority of said fatty acyl groups contain a C 18  -C 24  chain length.   
     
     
       2. The paper product according to claim 1 wherein the Iodine Value of said fatty acyl groups is from about 10 to about 85. 
     
     
       3. The paper product according to claim 3 wherein said fatty acyl groups have a cis/trans isomer weight ratio greater than about 50/50. 
     
     
       4. The paper product according to claim 3 wherein the majority of R 2  comprises fatty acyls containing at least 90% C 18  -C 24  chain length. 
     
     
       5. The paper product according to claim 4 wherein the majority of R 2  comprises fatty acyls containing at least 90% C 18 . 
     
     
       6. The paper product according to claim 4 wherein the majority of R 2  comprises fatty acyls containing at least 90% C 22 . 
     
     
       7. The paper product according to claim 1 further comprising from about 0.005% to about 3.0% of a wetting agent. 
     
     
       8. The paper product according to claim 7 wherein said wetting agent is a water soluble polyhydroxy compound. 
     
     
       9. The paper product according to claim 7 wherein said wetting agent is a linear alkoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
       10. The paper product according to claim 7 wherein said wetting agent is a linear alkyl phenoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
       11. The paper product according to claim 1 wherein each R is a C 1  -C 3  alkyl group. 
     
     
       12. The paper product according to claim 11 wherein each R is a methyl group. 
     
     
       13. The paper product according to claim 2 wherein the level of polyunsaturates of the fatty acyl groups is less than about 30%. 
     
     
       14. The paper product according to claim 13 wherein the level of polyunsaturates of the fatty acyl groups is less than about 10%. 
     
     
       15. The paper product according to claim 11 wherein X -   is selected from the group consisting of chloride, acetate, methyl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       16. The paper product according to claim 5 wherein the majority of said vegetable oil based fatty acyl groups are derived from olive oil. 
     
     
       17. The paper product according to claim 6 wherein the majority of said vegetable oil based fatty acyl groups are derived from rapeseed oil. 
     
     
       18. The paper product according to claim 5 wherein the majority of said vegetable oil based fatty acyl groups are derived from high oleic safflower oil. 
     
     
       19. The paper product according to claim 6 wherein the majority of said vegetable oil based fatty acyl groups are derived from meadow foam oil. 
     
     
       20. The paper product according to claim 1 wherein said paper product is a paper towel. 
     
     
       21. The paper product according to claim 1 wherein said paper product is a facial tissue. 
     
     
       22. The paper product according to claim 1 wherein said paper product is a toilet tissue.